Rope

Abstract

The rope of this invention comprises a plurality of strands each having a twisted reinforcing fiber bundle, thermosetting resin applied to the fiber bundle, and a thermoplastic resin cover enclosing the fiber bundle. Each strand in the rope is kept to substantially a round sectional shape by the twisted fiber bundle. The method for forming the rope comprises the steps of twisting the reinforcing fibers in such a manner that the tensile strength of the twisted fibers is not reduced to less than 50% of the fibers not twisted, applying an uncured thermosetting resin to the twisted fibers, covering the fibers with a molten thermoplastic resin, cooling the thermoplastic resin to cover the fibers with solidified thermoplastic resin and thereby forming a strand, forming a rope structure from a plurality of the strands, and heating the rope structure to cure the thermosetting resin applied on the fibers.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A rope comprising: an inner core fiber bundle comprised of: a plurality of first synthetic fibers,   a first thermosetting resin impregnating and connecting said first fibers, and   a first thermoplastic coating layer surrounding said first thermosetting resin immpregnated fibers; and     a plurality of outer fiber bundles surrounding said core fiber bundles, each outer fiber bundle comprised of: a plurality of second synthetic fibers,   a second thermosetting resin impregnating said second fibers, and   a second thermoplastic resin coating layer surrounding said second fibers impregnated with said thermosetting resin.     
     
     
       2. A rope as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first synthetic fibers are aramid fibers and said first thermosetting resin impregnating said first synthetic fibers is an uncured thermosetting polyurethane resin;   said second synthetic fibers are slightly twisted aramid fibers, and said second thermosetting resin impregnating said second synthetic fibers is an uncured thermosetting polyurethane resin; and   said first and second thermoplastic resin coverings are thermoplastic nylon.   
     
     
       3. The rope comprising: a first core fiber bundle comprised of: a plurality of first synthetic fibers,   a first thermosetting resin impregnating said first fibers, and   a first thermoplastic resin layer covering said impregnated fibers; and     a plurality of strands surrounding said first core fiber bundle, each strand comprised of:   a second inner core fiber bundle comprised of: a plurality of second synthetic fibers,   a second thermosetting resin impregnating and connecting said second fibers, and   a second thermoplastic coating layer surrounding said second thermosetting resin impregnated fibers,     a plurality of outer fiber bundles surrounding said second core fiber bundle, each outer fiber bundle comprised of: a plurality of third synthetic fibers,   a third thermosetting resin impregnating said third fibers; and   a third thermoplastic resin covering surrounding said third thermosetting resin impregnated fibers.     
     
     
       4. A rope as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said first, second and third synthetic fibers are aramid fibers;   said first and second thermosetting resins are uncured thermosetting polyurethane resin;   said third thermosetting resin impregnating said third synthetic fibers is an uncured thermosetting polyester resin; and   said first, second and third thermoplastic resin coverings are thermoplastic nylon.   
     
     
       5. A rope as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said first, second and third synthetic fibers are aramid fibers;   said first thermosetting resin is an uncured thermosetting polyurethane resin;   said second and third thermosetting resins are uncured thermosetting polyester resin; and   said first, second and third thermoplastic resin coverings are thermoplastic nylon.